Tips for Making the Most of Your Vacation Time
The hustle and bustle of everyday life can be overwhelming at times which is why vacations are such precious opportunities to recharge our batteries. It is a time to relax, make memories, and maybe even gain some cultural enrichment. Vacations, or even staycations, don’t have to be defined by a certain length of time, but we all look forward to those days spent out of the office. Here are some tips to help you maximize your travel time and make every moment count:
Optimize your Time
Traveling between destinations can often take up a significant portion of your time. So use this time wisely! When planning your next trip consider the following:
Do you know your company’s PTO policy? Using Paid Time Off (PTO) for vacation can be a straightforward process if you follow your company's policies and procedures.
Frequent short trips > Fewer long trips. Use bank and floating holidays to your advantage. Consider booking more 3 - 4 day trips in place of 7 - 12 day trips. This keeps things exciting because you’re always looking forward to your next adventure.
Have you tracked flight times? Tracking flights can help inform your decision on the best and cheapest times to fly.
Are you able to work remotely or volunteer for business trips?
Is it possible to negotiate a flexible schedule or comp time with your HR department?
Learn Flexible Planning
To travel and efficiently make the most of your time it’s important to research your destination. Try to create a rough itinerary and prioritize the activities you want to do. We like to each pick one activity that we consider a “non-negotiable” that we each get to do. These non-negotiables are the activities we want to make sure we experience and typically drive the order of priority on our itinerary. Expect the unexpected! Stay open-minded and prepared to be spontaneous. After talking with locals or fellow travelers you might find your interests change. Some of our most memorable experiences have come from being open to change in our agenda. And last, don’t try to cram a hundred tours in back-to-back. This leads to exhaustion and you aren’t likely to enjoy your surroundings if you’re scrambling to meet a bunch of tour deadlines.
Unplug and Disconnect
This tip has become so important to us. In today’s world, it is so easy to succumb to the temptation of consistently being on our phones. Avoid “doing it for the Gram” and take a moment to immerse yourself in the present. You might not get that TikTok you wanted in front of the Eiffel Tower, but what you will get is a priceless memory. Disconnecting can be hard so we set specific times for checking emails or to scroll through social media.
Make the Most of Mornings
If you are not a morning person you won’t love this tip, but waking up even an hour earlier will equal longer days to explore. If you’re visiting a place where you don’t have a lot of time but there is so much you want to see, you’re going to appreciate every extra waking moment. Also, if you’re looking to go to an attraction, being the first there never hurts!
Maximizing your travel shouldn’t only be able to check off a box to say you’ve been somewhere. Take time and enjoy your travels. Try new cuisines, experiences, and foster meaningful relationships during your adventure. Your goal of each trip should be to make incredible memories that will last a lifetime. Travel planning gets easier over time and everyone has their own style of planning which is okay. If you’re struggling to plan a trip connect with Passport Partners for help and more great tips like these!
